ESPN: Zach Thomas signs one-year deal with Chiefs

While Jason Taylor appears likely to remain unsigned until after the April 25-26 draft, his old defensive running mate with the Dolphins, linebacker Zach Thomas, has found himself gainful employment.

ESPN’s John Clayton reported Sunday evening that Thomas has signed a one-year, $2 million deal with Kansas City.

There’s irony in the deal: Thomas vowed upon leaving Miami last year that he would never sign with New England, the Dolphins’ archrival. In joining the Chiefs, he hooks up with GM Scott Pioli, who spent nine seasons as the Patriots’ vice president of player personnel.

Pioli also acquired former Pats linebacker Mike Vrabel in a February deal with the Patriots as he attempts to inject some veteran savvy into a defense that ranked at or near the bottom of the league in several categories last season. While many mock drafts have the Chiefs taking Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry with the No. 3 overall pick, there’s a chance the Vrabel/Thomas signings will lead them to look elsewhere.

Thomas, 36, had a solid if unspectacular season with Dallas in 2008, starting 14-of-16 games and recording 94 tackles, 65 of them solo.

Thomas spent the first 12 seasons of his career in Miami, and amassed four of the top five and nine of the top 15 season totals in tackles in franchise history, topping out at 195 in 2002.